The Saudi operatives who killed journalist Jamal Khashoggi referred to their prey as the “sacrificial animal,” according to a new report by the UN Human Rights Council’s special rapporteur released Wednesday.

Minutes before Khashoggi entered the consulate seeking guidance on a marriage license at 1:15 p.m., Saudi intelligence officer Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb and Saudi Interior Ministry forensic specialist Dr. Salah Mohammed Tubaigy hatched their plot to dispose of Khashoggi’s body, according to a recording from inside the consulate that was provided to investigators.

Then Tubaigy laid out the plan: “Joints will be separated. It is not a problem. The body is heavy. First time, I cut on the ground. If we take plastic bags and cut it into pieces, it will be finished. We will wrap each of them,” he said, also referencing “leather bags,” according to the UN report.

Afterward, Mutreb asked if “the sacrificial animal” had arrived, to which another person responded, “He has arrived.”

The two never mentioned Khashoggi by name, but moments later, his voice appears on the tape.

At 1:22 p.m., Mutreb can be heard asking Khashoggi whether he is carrying any phones — then instructing the journalist to “Send a message to your son.”

When Khashoggi asked what he should say, Mutreb offered to coach him through it.

“You will type a message — let’s rehearse; show us,” he said according to the report, which does not indicate what Khashoggi’s message to his son was.

see also

Khashoggi refused and Mutreb shot back: “Type it, Mr. Jamal. Hurry up. Help us so that we can help you because at the end we will take you back to Saudi Arabia and if you don’t help us, you know what will happen at the end; let this issue find a good end.”

Minutes later, Khashoggi can be heard remarking that “there is a towel here. Are you going to give me drugs?” — to which Mutreb responded they would “anesthetize him.”

Next, the sounds of a struggle can be heard. Investigators believe the Saudis sedated Khashoggi and suffocated him using a plastic bag, according to the UN report.

According to the report, the killers made statements including “Did he sleep?,” “He raises his head,” “Keep pushing,” and “Push here; don’t remove your hand; push it.”

The remainder of the recording captured the sounds of heaving and grunting as the Saudis dismembered the slain journalist and likely wrapped his body parts in plastic sheets.

In December, Turkish intelligence officials revealed that a sawing sound could be heard on the recording, but the UN special rapporteur could not confirm the source of the noises.

By 3 p.m., their gruesome work was finished, and several men were seen on CCTV leaving the consulate in a van and hauling plastic bags into the consul general’s residence two minutes later.